I thought it fitting we start a new thread that explores the concepts of sling evolution.Any and all ideas are fair game,and no idea is blasphemous. The designs here could include,but not be limited to,the compound sling,the semiautomatic self loading sling,the hand held mini-trebuchets that are o-so-popular here in Florida,the multishot slings used predominately for hog hunting,the fully automatic centrifugal loaders(the neoprene ones are ok here,but the spring design is too played out),the double-barreled sling,the atl-sling multifire is always fun,the piggyback staff-sling can create hours of entertainment,the captive release cord sling,the self destructive sling,or,last but not least,the venerable but less reliable Chinese yo-yo sling.

    Let's shake the foundations and push the envelope and go where no man has gone before,etc.etc.


  Ideas?

          Brett

currently working on a quantum sling.
The missile reaches it's destination without passing through the space inbetween sling and target.

The main problem is keeping the darn photons still while i load them in the pouch
so far haven't managed to use anything larger, hoping to work on up to protons eventually.

Exactly!!The quantum leap portal sling.We'll have to keep an eye on the Hadron collider.

  The design I was thinking of is a bit simpler.How about an atl-sling.It would consist of a woomera thrown dart that had a projectile that engaged by propulsion method upon impact of the spearhead.You could use surgical tubing like the sling shot or crossbow that would remain tight during flight,and engage a second dart or projectile.It would resemble a torpedo,but in the air.The old Confederate sub that was sunken and raised off the Carolina coast(S.S. Hunley) had the first torpedo.It would literally ram the enemy ship with the nose of the sub,damaging the enemy ship badly with its reinforced  harpoon device.The Hunley would then reverse engine("All men,pedal backwards full throttle!!!!!!!!!!!!!)and leave the wounded vessel with a barrel of dynamite that would worsen the hole and hopefully sink the ship.Sadly for the Hunley and its doomed crew,the only successful attack on The Houstatanic took the Hunley and crew with her to Davey Jones' Locker.Explosives;;;;;;FUN!!!

I always wanted to sling a shotgun shell on the end of a dowel rod with a tack on it. pretty much what jax is thinking.

Alright, guys, I got it! I just came up with this while I was manning the desk here at work! It's a staff atlatl. Picture a staff sling, about 4-6 feet long, but instead of the tapered end of a staff sling to facilitate release of a sling loop, you'd have a hook or spur permanently affixed to launch a dart two handed. About say, 3 feet down the shaft there would be a dart rest with a groove cut deeply into it so the dart would rest without having to be held on with the hands, and the casting motion would just be the typical staff sling type cast. Physics should do the rest. Weightstones may be optional, but this idea seems like it could have some merit. Now, I just have to have time to make one and test it. I think I know what I'm doing on Friday...
                                                                                 
                                                                      /\
[====================================]
                                            ####
[== shaft
Y dart rest
/\ dart spur (will be more horizontal on the prototype)
###  weightstone

How about the Maffball sling, !! and for those of you who are not familiar with the sport of maffball, it's simple really just soak a toilet roll in paraffin and set light to it and then play as with a football, it is usually played at night after to much alcohol has been consumed normally by members of the Goth Community on the beach at Whitby, If you go on YouTube and search for Maffball you should get several hits, it is sometimes played in just underpants and before you ask there are no rules except that if you catch fire it is your own fault.
I was at the last event and I have made a Maffball sling that resists Fire , bog rolls(i.e Maffballs) the sling is made from Springs, chain, Bowden wire and good old fashioned string, I will take a couple of pictures tomorrow an post them for you to have a chuckle at. I have used it a couple of times with differing degrees of success, my son tried it and managed to wrap it round his head with quite comical results apparently.
Dave

Dirty Old Goth this usually happens on the Monday night after the Beach party

How about a throwing star sling?  It would have to have a pouch made of something rather durable.

I wonder how much range and accuracy you could get out of the average shuriken.